The Danger of Accepting Quests without Reading the Fine Print

"WHAT?!" Fred thunders, raising his head in surprise and whacking his horns on the rock ceiling. "Belboz didn't mention... wait, so anyone that we meet could be the dragon in disguise?"

"Whisper, please. And yes, that's how she was able to get the drop on me."

"Or... maybe you're just saying that because you killed Princess Astra and you're really the dragon in disguise." Fred hisses, eyes narrowing to barely-visible slits and significantly reducing the amount of ambient light.

"And why, pray tel, would I tell you about the dragon's magic if I was?" Astra retorts.

"Then perhaps your transformed dog-friend?"

"Or even your necromancer friend Belboz."

"But... Belboz is a 'he'-?"

"Or looked like a 'he'. It would explain a few things though - I still can't understand how turning a living knight into a living dragon would be a spell that a necromancer would be able to cast."

Fred shakes his head from side to side. "But why would the dragon grant me a form to be hi- to be her equal? That doesn't make sense either." Though come to think of it, he considers, it would explain why he (she?) didn't think to mention the drop into the Grand Cavern.

"No, but - hold up. Did you hear that?"

Fred closes his mouth and listens. Sure enough, a faint sound is echoing down the tunnel from somewhere up ahead. "Something scraping on the rock?" he hisses as quietly as he can.

"I'll sneak ahead and see what it is. Stay behind me." Astra whispers.

"Shouldn't I -?"

"Shhhh!" Astra hushes again before giving Fred the Allarian military academy hand signals for 'Follow - Medium Distance. Be alert/Await next instruction.'

Fred is surprised enough that Astra knows the commands that he doesn't argue as she slips quietly forward to see what lies around the bend.

1. It's just a weird echo effect of the caves.
2. Fred and Astra have caught up with Velus!
3. Belboz is coming to see how Fred is doing.
4. One of the many monsters of the caves is coming towards them.
5. The dragon herself is coming!

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